Financial Problems for the Lannister House

We are reminded against that the Lannister don’t have any money left, as Tywin had said near the end of last season they simply don’t have enough money to rule. They borrow their money from the Iron Bank who could demand their money back at any time. It is also interesting that Cersei has sent Lord Mace Tyrell to be escorted by Ser Meryn Trant.

Perhaps Cersei’s plan is to have Lord Mace Tyrell convince the Iron Bank to extend the loans to the Throne and after have Ser Meryn Trant kill him in such a way it looks like an accident. Cersei is playing the longer game and Queen Margaery doesn’t know what she’s gotten into. Soon enough the whole council will be under Cersei’s thumb.

Faith Militant

Cersei, Cersei, CERSEI! There is no stopping her. She has now form an alliance with the High Sparrow by making him High Septon and has brought back an old practise of the Faith Militant. The High Sparrow and his men are supported by the Crown to enforce religion and religious practise across the city.

Pretty much Cersei has her own private army with in the walls of Kings Landing. This is a blatant power play against the Tyrell’s hold on the King. If she is able to extend the loan from The Iron Bank and able to arrest anyone in Kings Landing, even Ser Loras Tyrell, there is no stopping Cersei.

Between Two Loves

Poor Tommen. He is between a rock and a hard place at the moment. His wife, Queen Margaery, and his mother, Queen Mother Cersei, have Tommen in a spin as he fails to please both of them. Although Tommen is the King by title, he doesn’t know how to use his power.

Cersei has shown how little power King Tommen actually has and by extent how little Queen Margaery has. I would expect another major power-play by Queen Margaery to concur next episode. Possibly somehow having Cersei leave Kings Landing.

Jon Snow and The Boltons

Samwell Tarly has Jon sign a letter asking for more men from House Bolton. Jon Snow, yet again, shows how he puts duty before himself and reluctantly agrees.

Here’s hoping that Sansa Stark at Winterfell reads the letter somehow and messages him back for help to take back Winterfell.

What is Melisandre up to?

The Red Woman is up to her usual tricks again. She already asked Jon Snow if he was a Virgin, which he responded with ‘no’, in a previous episode. Now she’s trying to seduce him. Oh Melisandre! What are you like?!

She obviously sees something in Jon Snow otherwise she wouldn’t have gone to all this effort. I’m not perfectly sure she has ever been rejected by a man (or woman) before. Let’s see how she escalates the sexual tension. Yes, Jon Snow is still in love with Ygritte, but Melisandre is quite tempting!

Stannis and his Daughter

A really touching scene her between father and daughter. Also a reminder of what is important to Stannis. Unlike his crazy wife, he loves his daughter and isn’t ashamed of her. A great juxtaposition of Tywin’s relationship with Tyrion.

Jaime unlocks new ability

Now to Dorne, we have Bronne and Jaime fighting for their lives against Dorne soldiers.

We aren’t really clued into exactly what their plan would be. They can’t simply walk out with Jaime’s niece exactly.

Lyanna Stark and Prince Rhaegar Targaryen

Interesting! Interesting indeed! Littlefinger’s face says it all! There is clearly more to this story. Sansa, and the rest of Westeros, have been told the same story. Ned Starks’ sister, Lyanna, was kidnapped by Prince Rhaegar Targaryen although she was promised to Robert Baratheon. She was taken against her will and supposedly raped.

What if she wasn’t kidnapped? What if she willingly ran away. Littlefinger describes how Rhaegar gave flowers to Lyanna in front of everyone, even his wife Elia Martell. What if there was an actual love story occurring here? If Lyanna deliberately ran away with Rhaegar then the whole Robert’s Rebellion was an unforeseen consequence.

Littlefinger also talks about Jon Snow’s supposed mother. Littlefinger doubts that the honourable Ned Stark would just sleep with some random woman and take home a child. Continuing with the idea that Lyanna and Rhaegar were actually in love then perhaps the child Ned Stark brought home was theirs. Perhaps Jon Snow is the son of Lyanna Stark and Rhaegar Targaryen. *Mind Blows*

Sand Snakes

On that bombshell, we’ll move on. The Sand Snakes have captured the merchant that brought Jaime and Bronne over to Dorne. They now know that Jaime wants to get his niece back from them.

The Sand Snakes want vengeance and the death of Jaime or his niece Myrcella Baratheon would complete that objective but it may also start a war between Kings Landing and Dorne.

Ser Jorah Mormont & Company

Captain Friendzone Jorah hasn’t really thought this plan through. He is so madly obsessed with pleasing Daenerys it has clouded his logic. Why would she take him back and not simply kill both of them? She can’t be seen to be weak, especially now.

Here’s hoping that Tyrion can talk their way out of the situation which he notorious at.

Speaking of which…

We learn from Barristan Selmy the softer side of Rhaegar Targaryen. How he would sing to the locals and donate his earnings back to them.

This plays into what we learnt with Littlefinger. Rhaegar Targaryen was a lover not a fighter, although good at both apparently. The idea of him kidnapping a woman against her will seems less likely the more we learn of ‘The Last Dragon’.

This woman!

She needs to die already! She has got so many people killed! This is the first instance we’ve seen the Second Sons murdered. It’ll be interesting to see Daario Naharis response to his men being killed.

Who lives?

What a cliffhanger! We have two of the fans favourites fight to the almost-death and left without knowing who survived.

If they stayed with typical Game of Thrones storytelling they’ll both be dead and Daenerys will be screwed. If only a small tactically-minded individual was able to arrive at Meeren sometime soon?Especially if he was the son of a great General? Oh if only!

That’s it for this week. What do you think of Jon Snow’s parentage theory?